Walter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. M. BOOKWALTER.

WATER WHEEL.

(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 2. F. M. BOOKWALTER. WATER WHEEL Patented Dec. 22, 1891.

IN JVTOR 2 2M) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. BOOIUVAL'IER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JAMES LEFFEL & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,813, dated December 22, 1891.

Application filed April 16, 1891. Serial No. 389.130. (N model.) i

To aZZ whom, it may concern: In the manipulation of gates delivering Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. BOOK- water to a Wheel of the turbine or any other WALTER, a citizen of the United States, residsuitable variety it is desirable to operate said ing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and gates from each end thereof simultaneously, 55 State of Ohio, have invented certain new and especially if the wheel proper requires a gate useful Improvements in \Vater-WVheels, of opening of relatively wide breast dimensions, which the following is a specification, referwherein the pressure of the entering water is ence being had therein to the accompanying liable to exerta twisting and binding action drawings. upon said gates. 6 to Myinvention relates to certain newaud use- By my improvements I aim to operate the fol improvements in water-wheels. gates at each end thereof simultaneously by The objects of inyimprovements are to promeans of connecting-rings for each endof vide means to operatively connect a series of said gates, a cross connection for said congates so as to actuate each of said gates sinecti11g-rings,and suitable operating mechan- 6 5' I 5 multaneously through said connection, to ism acting through said cross connection to exert the operative force for adjusting the actuate the gates; also, to diminish the power gates at a point practically midway between required to operate said gates by ascrew and the length of the gates and preferably at sublever mechanism. stantially diametrically'opposite points of a Referring to the accompanying drawings, 70

2o connecting-ring at each end of the gates, and the letter A designates the casing of a waterto multiply the force exerted thereon by a wheel, provided With a suitable inlet-opening suitable mechanism. With these objects in B, dischargeopenings or drafttubes O 0, view my improvements have reference to ropreferably connected to each side of said tatably-mounted rings anda cross connection casing to deliver the water therefrom, and 75 forthe same adapted to be operated from out suitable stuffing boxes D on said draftside of the case, have reference to a forked tubes, adapted to form bearings for a shaft rod forming said cross connection, have ref E, on which is mounted the wheel proper F, erjence to mounting a pair of operating-rods of any convenient style. On the inner ends at substantially diametrically-opposite points of said draft-tubes are preferably supported 80 on said rings, have reference to a lever mechthe side plates G, on which are mounted conanism to operatively connect said rods and necting-rings H, by the rollers I, secured to multiply the power transmitted to the gates, said side plates or otherwise. Each end of and have reference to points ofdetail hereineach oscillating gate J is provided with an after described and claimed. arm connected by a link K to theconnecting 8 5 In the accompanying drawings, forming a ring at that end of the gate. These connectpart of this specification, and on which like ing-rings may be otherwise mountedand 0threference-lettersindicatecorrespondingparts, erwise connected to said gates, if so desired. Figure 1 represents a side view of a wheel In order to operate both rings simultaneously, proper and its adjacent parts, portions being and thereby the gates to which they are at- 90 to broken away to show the gates and the casing tached, a cross connection for said rings is in section; Fig. 2, an edge view of a wheel provided either in the form of columns Ii, proper and its adjacent parts, the casing bebolted or otherwise connected to said ring, to ing broken away; Fig. 3, a similar view to Fig. one of which columns is conveniently secured 1, showingone form of operating means and an operating-rod M, by means of the usual 5 5 forked rods forming the cross connection bestrap and bolt, or otherwise, said rod leading tween the connecting-rings; Fig. 4, a plan outside of the case through a suitable stuttview of a portion of Fig. 3, showing a side ing-box and bearing 0 to be reciprocated by view of said forked rod; Fig. 5, an edge View suitable mechanism, such as a hand-wheel P, of a lever and its mountings, adapted to opmounted in a collar Q, supported on said castoo crate said rods; and Fig. (3, a detail side view ing by a stand R, or otherwise, and having a of a forked rod. screw-threaded connection to said rod, whereby the rotation of said hand-wheel will reciprocate said rod and actuate said gates by the rotation of the connecting rings. One or more of these rods M may be employed, and I have indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 a modification of said rod, which is adapted also to form the cross connection between the rings H in place of the columns L. Its branches are rigid for this purpose.

In Figs. 3 to (5 I have illustrated a forked rod and means for operating said rod, as well as an arrangement of a pair of said rods at substantially diametrically-opposite points on said rings. It will be seen that the columns L are replaced by the branches of the forked rod, which. actuate both rings simultaneously, as in the previous arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and The shanks of said forked rods are'adaptedto be engaged with a'lever S, mounted in a bracket T, preferably upon the outside of the casing, said lever being'connected'by ascrew-threaded portion to a screw threaded rod U, rotatedby a hand-wheel 'V and mounted in a bracket W bymeans of a collar a on said rod U, or otherwise.

It will be seen that the rotation of the handwheel B will oscillate the lever S and recip-v transmission to said rings, allowing the manipulationof said gates to be easily effected. Thus it will also be observed that the gates are operated from practically midway their lengththat is to say, the operatingrod or rods are centrally located with respect to the length of the gates or the distance between the operatin g-rin gs-Whereby the force applied to operate the gates is free of any tendency to twist or distort the structure to which the gates are pivoted and to twist or distort the gates themselves. the' operating-rod connects with the cross-columns inthe central position, and the operating' rod or rods in Figs. 3 and 4 connect with the operating-rin gs at points close to the rings, still, nevertheless, that part of the rod "or rods to which the operating force is applied is centrally located with respect to the length of lhe gates or distance between the operating- It is true that While in Figs. 1 and rings. It is in this application of the operating force to the gates or gate-rings in such central or midway position that this branch of my invention is realized, in connection with the gates ,whose ends are connected with intermediate operating devices-that is to say, devices which transmit to the gates the power applied to such centrally-located actuating rod or rods.

I claim 1. In a water-wheel, the combination, with a wheel proper, a casing having inlet and outlet openingsfor water, and gates to regulate the delivery of water to said wheel proper, of a rotatable ring at each end of said gates, adapted to operatively connect said ends, cross connections for said rings to operate them simultaneously, rods engaged With'said cross connections at substantially opposite diametricalpoints,and means-to operatesaid rods from outside said casing.

2. In a Water-wheel, the combination, With a Wheel'proper, a casing having inlet and'outlet openingsfor wateiyand oscillating gates adapted to regulate the water delivered to said wheel proper, of a rotatable ring at each end of said gates-link mechanism between said rings and said gates, respectively,'apair of'forked' rods engaged with said ringsat substantially oppositediametrical points'and inter connecting the said rings in order-"to operate the same simultaneously, and a lever mechanism engaging withsaid rods, adapted to operate them in opposite directions androon said draft-tubes and at a relatively wide distance apart, and oscillating gates of cor responding dimensions pivotally mounted between said plates, of-a ring mounted at each end ofsaid gates, operative connections between said gates and said rings, respectively, forked ro lsforming the cross connections between said rings at substantially opposite diametrical points, a lever engaged with the said rods, adapted'to operate them in opposite directions, a rotatable rod having a screwthreaded engagement with said lever, and a hand-wheelon said rotatable rod, to operate said lever and rotate said'rings.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. I

FRANCIS M. BOOKWALTER. W itn esses:

H. M. PLAISTED, -ALEXANDER WIsEMAN.

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